EastEnders newcomer Davood Ghadami: 'Kush fancies Shabnam'

Davood Ghadami previews the arrival of his character Kush Kazemi.

EastEnders introduces new character Kush Kazemi next week as he starts work at Walford's market.

Charming, funny and full of energy, Kush quickly makes an impact among the locals - especially when Kat Moon realises that his stall is in direct competition with hers!

Here, Davood Ghadami - who plays Kush - shares the gossip on what to expect from his character.

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BBC

What can you tell us about Kush?

What is Kush's relationship with the Masoods like? "Some of the first people Kush meets are the Masood family, who are brilliant and great to work with. He got in there quick with the Masoods and gets on well with Mas. Again, he ruffles a few feathers there early on but being the type of person he is, he wants to get on with everyone.

"His personality isn't completely compatible with Shabnam's and early on that shines through. He doesn't see it as a bad thing though and kind of enjoys it. He likes to speak his mind which isn't always appreciated!"

Is Kush a bit of a flirt? "I think he fancies Shabnam - he probably fancies a lot of the ladies to be honest. Some characters enjoy it but some don't enjoy it so much and I think Shabnam is one of those."

Does he already know Sonia? "It's quite early days when you find out that he knows Sonia through Martin. It's a nice way of making a connection to existing characters in the show. It's a while before we find out too much about his past though - he's busy making new friends and building new relationships."

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Do you share any similarities with Kush? "It's good to have some similarities, obviously not entirely. Him being a nice guy and wanting to get on with everyone is something that is quite similar to my personality and it's easy to bring to the role."

Have you been starstruck meeting anyone? "I've had that moment with everyone. There's a moment when you go 'this is strange, you're on the TV' but then it passes and you get on with the job. Everyone is really great here and very warm and welcoming. I felt very supported when I came in - I feel very grateful to everyone."

What's it been like working with Jessie Wallace (Kat)? "It's great to work with Jessie. She's one of those characters that you really want to meet and she's lovely. We've done a few scenes together and her character is going through a difficult time, so it's interesting coming in and seeing how she works.

"The characters do clash as they're working the same business on the same small part of the street, so it does cause a few issues. Kush being Kush though doesn't make it personal and it's all very friendly."

Can you tell us about filming the scene we saw in the trailer where Kush has stripped off at the market? "That was very surreal but it works with the character. It's done for a good reason and it works very well and is very relevant. Everyone was so supportive and it was very relaxed, which is all I could ask for. From reading the scripts to actually doing it, it wasn't as daunting as it could have been and that's because of the people who work on the show. Fortunately the weather wasn't too bad!"

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Do you have a mentor on the show? "I wasn't given a specific mentor and was lucky enough to choose one. I chatted to Nitin Ganara as I was doing some of my first scenes with him and went from there. He's very much looked after me, steered me in the right direction and has shown me around. He's helped me out, as has everyone who I've met. He's a fantastic guy and I'm very lucky."

Have you worked with any of the cast before? "No I haven't. I came in not knowing anyone, but everyone has been wonderful and I've made a lot of friends."

Were you already a fan of the show? "I was a big fan. Getting the job was surreal. I've watched it for as long as I can remember."

What are some of your favourite storylines? "There are just so many. I think back to when Grant and Phil were fighting - I loved the relationship between the brothers. What I love about it is the show still has what it had back in the old days. The things that drew me to the programme are still there."

Is being on the show what you expected? "Parts of it are as I expected but some parts are different. Like when you first step on the Square, everything seems a bit smaller and you can't just step into The Vic and go straight into the bar. It's all an illusion!"

Will you watch yourself on screen? "I'm not very good at watching myself, but I think it's important to keep an eye on what you're doing. I will be watching but probably through my hands and with one eye closed!"

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What was your first scene? "One of the first scenes we filmed was Kush's arrival on the market and getting his business up and running. It was great because on day one I got to meet the Masoods. It was a fantastic welcome. It took a second for me to take it all in and realise where I was. It was so surreal!"

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